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About The Conservative (Nebraska City, Neb.) 1898-1902 | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1899)
10 Conservative * STANFORD UNIVERSITY. [ Address to the Trustees of tbo Lelairl Stan ford Junior University , by Jane L. Stanford February 11,1897. ] Mr. Chairman ami members of the board of trustees of the Leland Stanford Jun ior University : In deeding to you this homo and its contents this afternoon I am merely car rying ont the intentions of my beloved husband and doing what ho would have done had I been first called hence to the life eternal and he remained hero alone. In his last will and testament ho dis tinctly and at some length expressed such intention. Therefore , while I am left alone to execute this deed , it is in fact the deed of both of xis. And since this is the first opportunity I have had of bestowing , by myself , a gift upon the students of the university , I deem it proper and fitting to give to the trustees a few directions in regard to the future work , which , in the natural course of events , it must soon bo their duty to carry out as managers and responsible custodians of that institution , but which , for the present , by the will of our Heavenly Father , devolves on mo as sole surviving founder of the university. In the first place , I hope that the time may come when this homo , which is so dear to me , will bo found useful as an affiliated college to the Leland Stanford Junior University , or as a library for the use of the students of the university and the community at large ; and it would gratify mo exceedingly if I could fill it with books and make it accessible to all. But-in whatever manner it , may bo ulti mately decided that this homo be used , 1 wish it to bo expressly understood that 1 direct that it bo devoted to the uses and service of the Lelaud Stanford Junior University , and I direct and declare that it bhall never bo converted into a club house , a boarding-houso , or a place of undignified amusement. In the second place , let me speak of the honored president of the university. Every year since his installment his su perior abilities , his remarkable influence upon the faculty and students , and , in return , their fidelity and loyalty to him , have filled me with gratitude. That one so able , so scholarly , and yet so ap proachable by all classes of society , so willing and ready to lecture and aid all institutions throughout the state , many times making self-sacrifices to do so , should be among us , I am sure has caused California at largo to feel that my husband was wisely led when he selected him for the position ho so ably fills. As for myself , I could say much in his praise , for ho has tenderly and manfully helped to lighten my burdens , and assumes the cares and responsibili ties of his position without any com plaint , fearing to add to my cares. I will only add that my earnest and sin cere prayer is that no circumstances may occur to take him from his present position during the years in which the responsibility still rests upon mo. And [ would like to think that , his connection with my husband in the past may servo .is a link to bind him to the university for many years to come , when good old igo may still find him amid the scenes of dear Palo Alto , blessed and honored by the citizens of California and the students and graduates that go forth each year to fill their places in life. What I am now about to say I have frequently discussed with Doctor Jordan , but repeat it to you because I have been asked by several of the trustees to indi cate to them some of my wishes which it may be desirable for them to carry out , when they take upon themselves cho responsibilities. A subject I feel most reverentially under obligations to touch upon is one of a religious nature. An impression exists in the minds of many whose com mendation and strengthening prayers I need and seek , that the students of the university are not directly taught to reverence God and His wonderful works. It was God's goodness to my husband and myself , as evidenced in the many blessings we received from Him , that inspired our hearts with gratitude and gave birth to this university. It seems to me , therefore , most proper and necessary that a reverence for God's name should be one of the fundamental truths there expounded. It was such a feeling that caused my husband to di rect during his lifetime that , while no particular sect or creed should bo al lowed to intrude on the university , there .should bo taught therein " the immortal ity of the soul , the existence of an all- wise and benevolent Creator , and that obedience to His laws is the highest duty of man. " I will hero quote his own written words to mo on the subject : ' Religion is intended as a comfort , a solace , a necessity to the soul's welfare , and whichever form of religion fur- ihhes the greatest comfort , the greatest solace , is the form which should be adopted , be its name what it may. The best form of religion is trust in God and a firm belief in the immortality of the soul , life everlasting. " It is my direction that this vital and most important fact be not lost sight of : that the students when they enter the university be taught that every one born on earth has a soul germ , and that on its development depends much in lifo hero and everything in the lifo eternal. Cultivating the soul intelligence will en dow them with that which is beyond all human science , and rovenl to them God's very self. Thomas a Kempis has said : "How noble is the soul of man ; what wonderous powers are hidden within it. It can find no rest until it hath attained to the Supreme good reached its aims ; when once this is attained , it then en- ioyoth peace. " Another well-known writer has said : "Religion does not consist in confession ; it does not consist V in repentance. It consists only in the purity of the heart and iu the lifo of the individual. " And another says : "There is no narrowing so deadly as the nar rowing of man's horizon of spiritual things ; no worse evil could bofull him in his course on earth than to lose sight of Heaven. And it is not civilization that can prevent this , it is not civiliza tion than can compensate for it. No widening of science , no possession of abstract truth , can indemnify for an en feebled hold on the highest and central truths of humanity. What shall a man give in exchange for his soul ? " To teach this means the simple truths taught by our greatest of all teachers Jesus Christ. In this connection I recall a statement made to my husband and myself by the late Mark Hopkins , president of Wil liams college , while spending an even ing at our homo in Washington in 188(5. ( After reading aloud to us the fourth chapter of Ephesians ho remarked , "A general observance of this chapter would civilize the world. " I call your attention to this remark because it was made by one of the foremost educators of this country. Representatives of all denominations , without any restrictions , are invited to occupy the pulpit from Sabbath to Sab bath at the university , and I note with satisfaction that the students as a rule attend voluntarily in largo numbers , and listen with rare attentivouess to the ser mons preached. I also note with grati fication that there prevails among thorn a deep and sincere religious sentiment , as is shown by the regular Sunday even ing meetings , attended chiefly by the young men and women of the univer sity. I feel assured that God has a place in their hearts ; therefore I have thought that as soon as my financial condition warranted it I would like to e&tablish a professorship of Bible history , to be filled by one who will teach it without any prejudice. In the next place , I would impress on you the importance of a subject near my heart , that of economy being tangLt the students. A student will be better fitted to battle with the trials and tribu lations of lifo if ho ( or she ) has been taught the worth of money , the neces sity of saving and of overcoming a de sire to imitate those who are better off in this world's goods. For , when ho lias learned how to save and how to con trol inordinate desires , ho will be rela tively rich. During the past three and a halt' years of close observation on my part the importance of economy has impressed itself forcibly uponme , and I wish it to bo taught to all students of the university. Nature has made the sur roundings of the university beautiful , and the substantial character of the buildings gives them an appearance of luxury. I wish this natural beauty and comparative luxury to 'impress upon the students the necessity of their preserva-
